Morrath leaned over the war table, his crimson eyes scanning the map's jagged lines. His gauntleted finger traced Ridgeway Pass, its narrow valley drawn like scars cutting through the land. Dominion banners clustered near the choke point, their presence taunting in its brazenness.
Vivienne's nails tapped the map sharply, breaking the silence. "Here," she said, her tone confident. "We cut their supply lines here, and they won't recover."
Her voice dropped slightly as she leaned closer, her eyes darting toward Morrath. "We hit them hard, and this war changes."
Klara leaned against the wall, her twin blades resting lazily on her shoulders. A grin spread across her face as she straightened, the excitement clear in her voice. "An ambush at a choke point? That's my kind of fun."
Kaela shifted her weight, her glowing staff steady in her hand. "Or a perfect spot for traps," she countered, her tone calm but serious. Her gaze rested on Morrath, caution etched into her features. "They'll be ready for us."
Morrath straightened, his armor rasping softly as he moved. His crimson eyes swept over the three women, the weight of leadership pressing on him. "Then we don't give them the chance," he said, his voice cutting through the tension. "Vivienne, scout the cliffs and find us a path."
Vivienne's smirk carried a playful edge as her fingers traced an idle circle on the map's edge. "You know, My Lord," she said, her tone lowering slightly, "I always find the best routes—especially when you're watching."
Morrath's jaw tightened at her words, though he masked it with practiced composure. His crimson eyes met hers briefly before he turned back to the map. "Klara," he said briskly, redirecting his focus. "Take the strike team, hit their watchtowers, and sow chaos."
Klara grinned, rolling her shoulders and adjusting her blades. "Now we're talking," she said, her energy contagious. "Leave it to me, boss."
Kaela stepped forward, her staff glowing faintly as her gaze shifted between Vivienne and Morrath. Her voice carried a sharp edge, the frustration clear. "And what about me?" she asked. "Where do you need me, Frank?"
Morrath turned to her, his voice softening but firm. "You're staying with the reserves," he said, leaving no room for debate. "Your wards will protect the wounded and hold our fallback position."
Kaela's knuckles whitened as her grip on her staff tightened. "You're sidelining me again," she said, her voice rising with emotion. "I'm not just some mage meant to stay in the rear!"
Vivienne arched a brow, her smirk deliberate as she crossed her arms. "The boss knows what he's doing," she said smoothly, her tone laced with subtle condescension. "Maybe you should trust him."
Kaela's sharp glare cut through the room as her staff pulsed with faint light. "This isn't about trust," she said, her voice steady but fierce. "I've proven myself, and I'm tired of being treated like I don't belong on the front lines."
Vivienne's smirk didn't falter, though her gaze lingered on Kaela for a moment too long. "Then you should know your place," she said lightly. "And right now, that's securing the fallback."
Kaela took a step forward, the glow of her staff intensifying. "If you're so confident, Vivienne," she said sharply, "maybe you should stay back for once."
Morrath moved between them, the faint rasp of his armor filling the tense silence. His gauntleted hand rested lightly on Kaela's shoulder, grounding her. "Kaela," he said, his voice calm but firm, "this isn't about holding you back. It's about keeping everyone alive."
Kaela's lips pressed into a tight line, her frustration simmering. "And what about you?" she asked, her voice quieter but still forceful. "You throw yourself into danger without a second thought."
Morrath's gaze didn't waver as he spoke. "I do what's necessary," he said, his tone steady. "And right now, that means trusting you to protect what we've built."
Kaela held his gaze for a long moment before exhaling sharply. "Fine," she said, her tone clipped. "But don't think I'm okay with this."
Morrath's lips curved into a faint smirk, though his expression remained serious. "I wouldn't expect anything less," he said, his voice softer. "Just trust me."
As Kaela stepped back reluctantly, Vivienne's chuckle broke the silence. "Spirited," she said, her tone teasing. "You've got your hands full, My Lord."
Kaela shot her a sharp look, the glow of her staff flaring briefly before dimming. "I'll be watching," she said simply, her voice cutting like steel. "Don't disappoint me, Frank."
Morrath's jaw tightened, the words striking like a blade in an old wound. The phrase "Don't disappoint me, Frank.", so casually spoken, dragged him back to another life, a world of dim apartments, quiet ridicule, and the constant weight of expectations he could never meet. His crimson eyes flickered with something deeper, darker, before he forced his expression back to calm.
Kaela's gaze softened as she caught the faint shift in his demeanor. "Frank...?" she asked, her tone laced with uncertainty.
"It's nothing," Morrath said quickly, his voice steady but colder than before. He turned away, the faint hum of his Shadow Blade filling the silence. "Just focus on the wards."
…Later, the jagged cliffs of Ridgeway Pass loomed ahead, their shadows stretching like claws over the rocky terrain. Morrath moved silently, his steps muffled by the faint rustle of his cloak. The air was sharp with the tang of iron, promising the bloodshed to come.
Ahead, Vivienne crouched low, her sharp eyes scanning the watchtowers perched high above. The flicker of Dominion torches revealed armored silhouettes, their movements methodical but predictable. She raised two fingers, signaling back to Morrath with quiet confidence.
Morrath gestured for the group to halt, stepping closer to Vivienne. His shadowy aura flickered faintly as he spoke. "What do you see?" he asked.
Vivienne pointed toward the cliffs, her voice steady. "Three towers," she said. "Heavy guards, but their patrols are sloppy. I've marked their routes."
Morrath's crimson eyes trailed her direction as he weighed their options. "Klara takes the left," he said, his tone firm. "You handle the center. I'll take the right."
Vivienne smirked, her voice carrying a teasing edge. "Taking the hardest one?" she asked lightly. "How noble."
Klara let out a laugh, adjusting her blades as she stepped forward. "That's the boss for you," she said, her grin widening. "Always showing off."
"It's not about showing off," Morrath said, his voice calm as he turned to the map again. "It's strategy. Let's move."
The group split silently, each moving toward their targets with precision. Morrath's steps were silent as shadows coiled around him, their energy pulsing faintly in the night. The tower loomed ahead, its guards oblivious to the doom creeping toward them.
The system chimed softly in his mind, blending with the faint rustle of the cliffs.
[Enemy Awareness: Low. Recommended Action: Neutralize Guards Quickly.]
Morrath crept forward, his Shadow Blade gleaming faintly. His first strike was swift and silent, the guard crumpling without a sound. The second turned, only to freeze as a spectral hand of Chill Touch gripped him mid-motion.
Dark tendrils erupted from the ground, ensnaring the remaining guards as Morrath advanced. Each strike of his blade was precise, his movements calculated and unrelenting. A flick of his wrist unleashed Eldritch Blast, green flames splintering the tower's base.
Vivienne emerged from the shadows as the tower crumbled, her steps light but purposeful. "Center tower's down," she said, brushing a loose strand of hair aside. "Not a scratch."
Klara appeared moments later, her grin smug as she leaned on her blade. "Left tower's toast," she said. "Pretty sure I made more noise than you, Viv."
Vivienne smirked, her tone teasing. "Noise wasn't the goal, but I'm sure the boss noticed your... enthusiasm."
Morrath glanced between them briefly before turning his gaze to the Dominion forces regrouping below. "Vael will rally them here," he said, his voice calm but commanding. "This ends now."
The Dominion soldiers formed a tight line, their weapons gleaming under the moonlight. At their center, Commander Vael's dark armor glinted as his halberd pulsed faintly with runes. His voice boomed, mocking, as it echoed through the pass.
"The Demon Lord thinks he can stop me?" Vael laughed, raising his weapon. "Come, then! Let's end this."
The clash was swift and brutal, steel meeting steel in a flurry of sparks. Morrath moved with deadly grace, his strikes weaving seamlessly with bursts of dark magic. As Vael's halberd swung wide, Morrath ducked low, countering with Chill Touch to freeze the weapon mid-swing.
Klara and Vivienne cut through the Dominion ranks, their strikes sharp and relentless. Morrath pressed forward, casting Shadow Tendrils to pin Vael in place. With a final strike, Morrath's blade shattered the commander's defenses, ending the fight.
The system chimed softly as Vael fell, his halberd clattering to the ground.
[Commander Vael Defeated. Objective Complete: Secure Ridgeway Pass.]
[Rank Progression: 25%. Title Progression: The Dominion's Bane.]
Morrath stood amidst the scattered remains of the Dominion forces, his breath steady as the glow of his blade dimmed. Around him, his allies gathered, their exhaustion tempered by triumph. The pass was theirs.
Vivienne smirked, brushing a speck of dirt from her sleeve. "Not bad, My Lord," she said, her tone playful. "Not bad at all."